Safety hinge



Dec. 12, 1961 J. w. REID 3,012,270

SAFETY HINGE:

Filed May 3, 1960 INVENTOR.

BY /mw/d. IMI;

3,012,270 Patented Dec. l2, 1961 rice 3,012,270 SAFETY HINGE James W. Reid, 909 Linwood Ave., Collingswood, NJ. Filed May 3, 19,60, Ser. No. 26,464 9 Claims. (Cl. 16-144) This invention relates generally to doors or swingable closures, and is especially concerned with means for locking or securing such closures in closed condition.

While the device of the present invention has been primarily developed for use in vehicles, such as trucks and automobiles, and will be illustrated and described herein with particular reference thereto, it is understood that the advantageous features of the instant invention are capable of many varied applications, all of which are intended to be comprehended herein.

As is well-known, vehicle doors present many hazards to safety. For example, it is not uncommon for a vehicle door to swing open under the impact of a collision, and thereby permit an occupant to be thrown from the vehicle and subjected to additional serious injury. This often occurs due to distortion of the vehicle frame under collision conditions. This unexpected door opening also happens without collision conditions, such as in skidding, sharp turns,'and other maneuvers, or even by merely riding on rough roads.

Also, vehicle doors, as well as various other swingable closures or, doors are subject to unauthorized opening, forcible or otherwise, usually for purposes of pilferage, vagrancy, and the like. 1

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide a novel lock construction for a door which overcomes the above-mentioned difficulties, effectively retaining vehicle doors closed under all conditions of vehicle operation, including violent distortion of the vehicle frame, and which effectively prevents unauthorized opening of a door, even by forcible means.

' It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a structure of the type adapted to lock a door at the hinge or hinge side thereof, rather than at the conventional latch side of the door, which structure may be operable either together with or independently of a conventional latch mechanism.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a door-locking structure which has the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, and which is extremely simple and durable in construction, reliable in use, and which can be incorporated in door constructions at very little additional cost.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

' FIGURE 1 is a plan view showing a door hinge of a vehicle with the door kin open position, and illustrating associated parts of the vehicle;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the structure of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the structure of FIG- URES l and 2, but with the hinge in the closed-door condition, and partly in section along the line 3-3 to clarify understanding;

FIGURE 4 is ka partial sectional view showing a slightly modified form of door lock constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the door being in closed condition; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES 1 3 thereof, a door jamb is partially shown at in FIGURE l, which may be the hinge jamb of a vehicle door. A hinge is generally designated 11, and includes a hinge element 12 xed to the jarnb 10, and a hinge element 13 swingable relative to the jamb. A door, fragmentarily shown at 14, is carried by the swingable hinge element 13.

More particularly, the hinge element or plate 12 is generally flat and firmly secured in facing engagement with the jamb 10 by bolts or fasteners i6. The hinge plate 12 in conventional vehicular use is disposed generally vertically; and, a pair or" verticallyy aligned edge loops or hinge knuckles 17 are provided on the hinge plate l2. The hinge element 13 includes a bar or strap having one portion 18 adapted for securement to the door 14, and extends therefrom obliquely, as at 19, and is thence bent to extend generally normal to the securement portion 18, as at 20. The portion 2Q remote from the oblique portion 19 is provided with a generally vertically opening eye portion or hingle knuckle 21 located between and in vertical alignment with the hinge knuckles 17, all of which cornbine to receive a hinge pin or pintle 22. The hinge element 13 and its associated door lid are thus swingable between the open condition of FIGURES 1 and 2, and the closed condition of FIGURE 3. In the latter condition it will be observed that the hinge portion swings into proximate facing relation with the hinge element 12. As thus far described, the structure of hinge 1l may be substantially conventional.

VIn a common type of automotive door hinge, the plate l 12 is secured fast to the frame post or jarnb 10 by bolts or fasteners one arrangement of which is shown in FIGURE 2. In place of one fastener a mounting structure 25 is provided in the instant invention. The mount or mounting structure 25 includes an enlarged head 26 on the outer side of the hinge plate l2, remote from the jarnb 10, and a reduced, threaded shank 27, of the same diameter as the fastener it replaces, which extends inward through the hinge plate 12 and jamb 10, being provided on its inner end with a nut 28, of the same size as 16, screwed into bearing engagement with the jarnb and clamping the head 26 firm against the hinge element.

12. The head`26 of the mount 2S is provided with a generallyy verticalvinternal bore 30 having its lower end constricted by an internal shoulder 31 defining centrally thereof a reduced-diameter downwardly opening hole 32.

A cover` 33 is secured fast on the upper end of the head 26, and is provided with a smoothly downwardly convergent through opening 34 of a diameter less than and opening into the upper end of the bore 3i?. A generally vertically disposed locking element or. pin 35 is arranged slidably within the bore 30, having its lower end depending slidably through the downwardly opening hole` 32 and projecting outward therefrom. An annular enlargement or collar 36 is provided on the pin 3S interiorly of the bore 30 to limit outward sliding movement of the pin downward through the hole 32. interposed between the collar 36 and the cover 33 is a coil compression spring 37 which resiliently urges the pin to its limiting downward or extended position and permits upward retraction of the pin substantially completely within the bore 30.

yThe portion 20 of the hinge element 13, on the surface thereof opposite to the hinge element 12, may be provided with a recess 4i) which opens upward through the (upper edge of the hinge portion 2li and faces outward,

away from the jamb -il when the hinge clement i3 is swung to its closed-door position irivthe "direction of arrow 41 in FIGURE l. 'It will be noted that the recess or pocket 40 is located in position to receive the depending end of pin 35 when the latter is extended and the hinge in its closed-door position, both the head 25 andthe pin-receiving pocket 40 being located remote from the pivotal axis of pintle 2.2, to minimize stress von the pin or locking element 35 upon attempted opening of the door or swinging of the hinge element 13 from the position of FIGURE 3 to that of FIGURE 1 without retracting the locking element.

`An upstanding guide, loop, or eye -43 extends from the upper Vend of pintle 22 above the upper edge of hinge element 11; and, the guide 43 and pintle 22 are preferably fixed relative to the plate 12, by any suitable means, so that they do not move withthe swingable hinge element 13. Further, the guide or eye 43 is arranged in a plane approximately Vnormal to that .of the hinge plate 12 so as to have its central opening facing toward the head 26y at all times. Y An actuating arm 45 -is mounted on the'door, and pivotally carried thereby, as on a rotatable shaft 46. An elongate Vflexible member or cable `47 extends loosely e through the guide or eye 43,V having one end portion 48 depending slidably downward through the opening 34 of the mounting-structure cover 33 and into the bore 30 of the head 26 where it is anchored, by any suitable means, to the upper end of .pin 35. The other end of the elongate member or cable `47 extends and is secured to the swinging end of arm 45, as by a fastener I49. Hence, upon swinging movement of the actuating arm y45 in one direction, the counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG- URE l, the locking element 35 may be retracted upward.

As the cable 47 passes through theraxis of hinge .11,

which is kinematically common to both the jamb 10 andv door '14, it is apparent that the door may swing without.

restraint imposed by the cable, and that the latter will neither be pulled nor develop slack as a result of door movement. Y

Resilient means l50, which may be a leaf spring, yis fixed to the hinge plate 12, being anchored by a fastener 51 to one end ofthe hinge plate, and has its free end extending obliquely outward directly beneath and in the path of extensile movement of the locking element 35, as best seen in FIGURES l and 2. This is the unstressed condition of the resilient member or :leaf spring 50, and in thisV condition the .resilient member 50cengages with the -lower endV of the locking element 35 to retain the latter'in its retracted position within the bore 30, However, upon-movement of the hinge element '13 to its closed-door positin,the hinge portion 20 deects the leaf spring 50'inward toward the hinge plate V12, and the locking pin 35 rides over thefupper edge of the hinge portion 3G and lsnaps downward into the recess 40, the condition of FIGURE 3.

While the leaf spring 50 is thought to Vbe the Vsimplest means for engaging the locking element 35 to preventV extension thereof, it is appreciated that other constructions may be employed, such asa resiliently biased pin extending transversely of the lockingpin.V

While operation of the device of FIGURES l-3 is Vbelieved apparent from the foregoing, a brief description thereof follows. In Ythe closed-door condition of FIG- URE 3 Vit i-s obvious that'the locking element 35 positively retains the swingable hinge element 13 in its closeddoor condition, so Vthat even if the conventional door latch should fail, the door would remain closed. The locking element 35 may release lthe door for movement to its open position by upward retraction of the locking element. This is accomplished by rotating the shaft 46 and arm x45 to pull the elongate member orcable 47. Theactuating shaft 46 may be separate from, or the same as the shaft of the conventional door handle, de-

pending upon whether itis desired to release the locking` Y recess 40a.

element 35 simultaneously with orseparately lfrom the conventional door-opening procedure. In either case, upon upward retraction of the locking element 35 by exerting pull on the elongate member '47, the door may be opened and the hinge element 13 swung to pass the hinge portion 20 beneath` the retracted locking element 35 and permit voutward `swinging movement of theretaining Yelement or leaf spring 50 into position vbeneath the locking element. The resilient member 50 thus engages with and retains the locking element 35 in its( retracted position until the door is again closed, which deects the member 50 inward and permits the locking element to ride over and engage on the oppositeside of the hinge portion 20, again assuming the position of FIGURE 3.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 4 and 5 a hinge is generally designated 11a, and includes a hinge elementlZa fixed to a door-'post or hinge jamb, and a'hinge element 13a adapted to carrya door. The hinge elements `'12a and 13a correspond to the hinge elements V12 and 13 of FIGURES 1 3, and are pivotallyV connected together by a generally verticalpintle or pin 22a which carries a guide or eye 43a xed relative to the hinge element 12a, in the same manner as the pintle 22 and guide 43.

A mount or mounting structure, generally designated 25a includes a head 26a iixed to the outer side of the hinge plate 12a and located over and extending outward beyond the adjacent portion 20a Vof swingable'hinge element 13a when the latter ris in its closed-door position, as best seen in FGURE 5. The head v26a is ,iixed in Vthis position by the provision of an integral fastener 27a Yextending inward through and ixed to the hinge plate 12a by a nut or any'suitable'means (not shown). The` head 26a is formed interiorly with a vertically extending through opening 39a, and Va downardly opening cutout or slot 55 is -formed in the head Y26a extending from the'lower region of the Ybore 30a generallytoward the pintle 22a. The external surface of the head 26a, in the lower region of its side` toward thepintle 22ais preferably of convexly arcuate contour, as at 56. f

The outer surface of the hinge portion 20a, away from the hinge element 12a, andL directly beneath Vthe head 26a is formed with a generally quadrant-shaped recess ofpocket 40a which opens outward Yand upward throughthe upper edge ofthe hinge `portion 20a. A locking bar, arm, or element 35a is-disposed generally vertically, asl lseen in'the drawings, having its upper region received inthe bore'30a ofthe Lheadlta and yits ylower region depending into the A pivot pin 57 vextends through the upper region of the locking element 35a, generally normal to the ',xed hinge plate 12a, and into the adjacent rregions of the mounting-structure head 26a to mount the locking bar or'pin35a for swinging movement about the axis of the pin 57. Thepin 35a isthus swingable from its depending illustrated position generally counterclockwise, as `seen in the drawings, above the upper edge of the hinge Vportion 20a 'to release the latter for swinging dooropening movement. In this position of countercloekwise rot-ation, the locking .element 35a is received in the slot or cutout 55 of the head 26a. Resilient means 37a, which may take the form of a leaf spring, are provided to resiliently -urge the locking element 35a in the clockwise direction to its limiting, generally vertical depending position illustrated. The resilient means 37a may be of any desired construction, it being only necessary that the locking. element 35a be resiliently urged toward its locking position depending into the recess 40a.

Suitable resilient means, such as Ia leaf spring 50a,-may be'lixed to the plate 12a'fo'r operation in a mannersimilar to the leaf Vspring 50 to retain the locking lelement 35a Vin its upwardly swung or retracted position within the and passes through the guide 43a for connection to a suitable actuating mechanism, which may be such as that shown and described in connection with FIGURES 1-3. Here also, the guide 43a is on the pivotal axis of the hinge 11a and the cable 47a passes through the hinge axis to resolve the problem of relative motion upon swinging of the door.

In operation, pull is exerted upon the elongate member 47a to swing the locking element 35a counterclockwise out of the recess 40a, whereupon the hinge 13a is released to permit unobstructed opening movement of the door carried by the hinge element. The leaf spring 59a swings out with opening of the door to engage beneath and to retain the locking element 35a in its upwardly swung position against the force of resilient means 37a; or, other suitable means may be provided to retain the locking element in its upwardly swung position, such as that shown in FIGURES 1 3. The door may then be kept open as required, and closed when desired, whereupon the locking element 35a returns in the clockwise direction to its depending, locking position. In this embodiment, should undue force be exerted upon the locking element 35a in its locking position, suliicient to bend the locking element, by reason of the curved contour 56 the locking element may still be swung upward out of the recess 40a to permit opening of the door.

From the foregoing it is seen that the present invention provides a door-loclt-and-hinge construction which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture, installation, and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit f the in 7ention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a door construction including a hinge jamb, a door and a hinge swingably connecting said door to said jamb, said hinge including a portion swingable with said door toward and away from said jamb upon respective closing and opening of said door; releasable locking means comprising a mount fixed to said jamb and positioned alongside the path of movement of said swingable hinge portion, a locking element carried by said mount for etxension and retraction into and out of the path of movement of said swingable hinge portion at a location on the opposite side of said hinge portion from said jamb when said hinge portion is in its position of movement toward said jamb and resiliently biased into said path, releasable retaining means normally disposed in said path engaging said locking element to retain the latter retracted when said hinge portion is swung away from said jamb, said retaining means being movable out of said path upon engagement by said hinge portion to release said locking element when said hinge portion is in position toward said jamb, a door handle movably mounted on said door remote from said hinge, and operating means connected between said handle and said locking element for retracting the latter upon movement of said handle when it is desired to open the door.

2. Releasable locking means according to claim 1,

said locking element being slidably carried by said mount, and said operating means being connected to said locking element to slidably retract the latter against the resilient biasing force.

3. Releasable locking means according to claim 1, said locking element being rotatably carried by said mount, and said operating means being connected to said locking means to swing the latter to its retracted position against the resilient biasing force.

4. Releasable locking means according to claim 1, said retaining means comprising a retaining element resiliently biased into the path of movement of said hinge portion and the path of extension of said locking element to retain the latter retracted, said retaining element being depressible out of the path of said locking element by said hinge portion when the door is closed.

5. Releasable locking means according to claim 1, said operating means comprising a guide carried on the pivotal axis of said hinge, an elongate flexible member connected between said locking element and handle and extending slidably through said guide, said guide being kinematically common to said jamb and door, whereby said elongate member imposes no restraint on swinging of said door.

6. A safety door lock for a vehicle including a door jamb, a door and a pair of pivoted hinge elements, one of said hinge elements being fixed to said jamb and the other to said door to mount the latter for swinging movement relative to said jamb, said lock comprising: a mount secured fast to said one hinge element, a locking element carried by said mount for extension into and retraction out of holding relation with said other hinge element when the door is closed, resilient means urging said locking element to its holding relation, a door handle movably carried by said door remote from said hinge elements, flexible cable means connected between said door handle and said locking element and passing through the pivotal axis of said hinge elements to move said locking element out of its holding relation by actuation of said door handle, and retaining means operatively connected to said locking element to retain the latter out of its holding relation when said door is out of its closed position.

7. A lock according to claim 6, said locking element comprising a spring-pressed pin slidable in said mount for extension from and retraction into said mount.

8. A lock according to claim 6, said locking element comprising a pivoted arm carried by said mount for swingable extension therefrom and retraction thereto.

9. A lock according to claim 6, said cable being in tension, and a guide slidably receiving said cable and located in substantial alignment with the pivotal axis of said hinge elements fixed `relative to said one hinge element and facing generally toward said locking element, to slidably rctain said cable in position passing through said pivotal axis.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 198,822 Stone Jan. 1, 1878 990,552 Hassmann Apr. 25, 1911 1,169,429 Rothschild J an. 25, 1916 2,723,419 Christopher Nov. 15, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 507,736 Germany Sept. 24, 1930 

